Are online and face-to-face questionnaires equally valid and reliable methods of assessing preconception care?

Face-to-face interviews using paper-based or online survey questionnaires are used interchangeably to allow the strengths of each method to complement each other. Preconception care is important for maternal and infant health. Thus, this study aims to assess the reliability and validity of a preconception care questionnaire using online and face-to-face interviews. Additionally, this study examines the preconception care status of Jordanian women of reproductive age. Online and face-to-face interview questionnaires were conducted with a random sample of Jordanian women of reproductive age (18–44 years) in a cross-sectional design between March 2022 and May 2022. A total of 1367 participants from the online questionnaire and 416 participants from the face-to-face interview questionnaire were included in this study. The preconception care questionnaire was found to be valid and reliable in both online (α = 0.874) and face-to-face (α = 0.722) interviews. Both methods showed a high prevalence of good knowledge and positive attitudes but poor practices among women between the ages of 18 and 29 years. Women aged 30–45 had poor knowledge and practices as well as negative attitudes. Married women had inadequate knowledge and practices as well as negative attitudes. While single women had good knowledge, they had negative attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]